Mission
Our mission is to keep the vitally important tradition of classical theatre alive, while making it accessible and exciting to modern audiences. We strive to create experiences that are equal parts enrichment and entertainment, to produce shows that will appeal equally to die-hard Shakespeareans, and those who claim to hate Shakespeare alike. Shows that offer fresh takes on timeless stories. We aim to build a creative community that fosters artistic risk, intelligence and inclusivity. We are the 6th Act.
LIZA SENECA, Co-Artistic Director
Liza is originally from The Netherlands, but has called Los Angeles home for many years now. An actress, producer, and director, she has appeared on countless LA, NYC, and regional stages. Select theater credits include Ameryka (Center Theatre Group/Critical Mass), The Caucasian Chalk Circle, Les Liaisons Dangereuses and Cloud 9 at Antaeus, An Evening of Betrayal (The 6th Act), Pericles, Henry VI, Parts 1, 2, & 3, and The Merchant of Venice with the Porters of Hellsgate, Macbeth (Colorado Shakespeare Festival), Pulp Shakespeare (NYC and LA Premieres), Collected Stories (The Group Rep), The Boomerang Effect (World Premiere - Odyssey), A Shayna Maidel (ICT), and Much Ado About Nothing (Kentucky Shakespeare). She is a member of both The Antaeus Company and The Porters of Hellsgate. She has been seen on television in recurring roles on The Following and Bucket & Skinner’s Epic Adventures, Grey’s Anatomy, Lie to Me, Monk, Big Love, Studio 60 on the Sunset Strip, and Alias. Her film work includes Night Eyes, Zwartboek (Black Book), and The Drama Club, among others. Her voice can be heard in numerous commercials, industrials, and films, including Ready Player One, Finding Dory and Lego Batman. She is the co-creator and producer of the Bard tribute series This Week in Shakespeare - www.youtube.com/weeklyshakes
MATTHEW LEAVITT, Co-Artistic Director
Matthew Leavitt, a life-long Los Angeles native, is an award-winning playwright, director and librettist. After a summer of studying playwriting at Harvard University, he was a semifinalist in the Young Playwrights National Playwriting Competition founded by Stephen Sondheim, for his play Losers and Fools. Leavitt later graduated from Pomona College with a degree in Creative Writing. His most recent play, Sukkot, just had its World Premiere at The Skylight Theatre in Los Angeles directed by Joel Zwick, His previous play, The $5 Shakespeare Company, was recognized as an LA Times Critics’ Choice. His award-winning play The Boomerang Effect is published by Concord Theatricals and has enjoyed productions throughout the US and the UK. He has been commissioned by LA Opera twice to write the librettos for two new operas, Orpheus and The Wreck of the Miranda (both collaborations with award-winning classical and film composer Nathan Wang). Directing credits include Hamlet (The 6th Act, winner of ‘Best Director of a Play’ Stage Scene LA Award), Legally Brunette (World Premiere - The Garry Marshall Theatre in LA, 54 Below in NYC), Sonnets From Suburbia (Edinburgh Fringe Festival, 59E59 in NYC), The Scorpion and the Frog: a time killer (World Premiere - Hollywood Fringe Festival), Double Play (World Premiere - Stephanie Feury Theatre), Barfly Shakespeare (The 6th Act), Twelfth Night (Village Green Productions), The Taming of the Shrew (Village Green Productions), Arrival (Sci-Fest LA), Human History (Sci-Fest LA), Ladies of State (Working Stage) and Goes The Weasel (Ammunition Theatre Company).
COMPANY HISTORY
2024
January – February: The World Premiere of Matthew Leavitt’s Sukkot runs at The Skylight Theatre. Directed by Joel Zwick.
April: Our first Ebell Event is an unforgettable staged reading of Shakespeare’s Twelfth Night featuring a live jazz quartet. In partnership with The Ebell of Los Angeles.
July: Our production of Sonnets From Suburbia makes its New York City debut at 59e59 in Manhattan.
August: Sonnets From Suburbia travels across the Atlantic for a successful run at The Edinburgh Fringe Festival, becoming our first international production.
September: The return of our “Dramatic Pauses... For Good Causes” staged reading festival, featuring Neil Simon’s The Sunshine Boys starring Andy Robinson and Armin Shimerman. All proceeds benefited PanCAN, an organization that leads the fight against pancreatic cancer.
October – November: Jonathan Tolins’ Buyer & Cellar starring Emerson Collins runs at The Whitefire Theatre to rave reviews. Directed by Larry Raben.
2023
June: The World Premiere of Sonnets From Suburbia written and performed by Penny Peyser debuts at The Hollywood Fringe Festival and marks our return from Covid. Directed by Matthew Leavitt and Liza Seneca
July: Sonnets From Suburbia earns the Producer’s Encore Award.
September: Sonnets From Suburbia runs at the inaugural Hollywood Independent Theatre Festival (HITFest).
2022
The 6th Act officially receives 501c3 status.
2021
Theatres closed due to Covid.
2020
February – March: The World Premiere of Matthew Leavitt’s The $5 Shakespeare Company runs at Theatre 68, directed by Joel Zwick. Earns the unique distinction of being the very last production to ever earn a Los Angeles Times Critics’ Choice recognition.
October: Contributed to ATLA’s virtual short play festival Together LA with a filmed production of On by Spencer Green. Starring Natalie Lander and Jared Hillman. Directed by Matthew Leavitt and Liza Seneca.
2019
March – April: Our production of William Shakespeare’s Hamlet runs at New American Theatre to great acclaim and reception. Adapted and Directed by Matthew Leavitt. Winner of 4 Stage Scene LA Awards including “Best Direction of A Play” and “Best Ensemble in a Play”.
June: The World Premiere of Spencer Green’s The Scorpion and the Frog: a time killer debuts at the Hollywood Fringe Festival.
July: The Scorpion and the Frog: a time killer earns the Producers’ Encore Award.
November: The second annual “Dramatic Pauses... For Good Causes” commences with a staged reading of Shakespeare’s Much Ado About Nothing starring Kitty Swink and Armin Shimerman with proceeds benefitting Our Children’s Trust.
The second night of the festival featured a showcase from students of The Los Angeles High School of the Arts (LAHSA) with all proceeds benefitting their school.
2018
June: Our first full production, An Evening of Betrayal, combined Harold Pinter’s Betrayal with Liza Seneca’s adaptation of Shakespeare’s Othello and runs at Theatre 68. Directed by Elizabeth Swain and winner of 6 Stage Scene LA Awards.
November: The first ever “Dramatic Pauses... For Good Causes”, our annual festival of staged readings where all profits go to a different charity.
For our inaugural festival we featured a reading of Caryl Churchill’s Escaped Alone directed by Elizabeth Swain, with proceeds going to City of Hope.
Night two featured a staged reading of Matthew Leavitt’s new play The $5 Shakespeare Company with proceeds benefitting The Hirshberg Foundation.
Night Three brought Night Hawks by Dennis Pratt and Robert Vincent O'Neil, directed by Gary Lee Reed with proceeds benefiting The Actor’s Fund.
Night Four was a reading of Tennessee Williams’ masterpiece The Glass Menagerie directed by Del Shores, benefiting The Miracle Project.
The final night presented Jane Martin’s Keely and Du, directed by Liza Seneca with proceeds benefitting Planned Parenthood.
2017
May: We produced a free staged reading of William Shakespeare’s Julius Caesar at The Silverlake Library that was open to the public. This beautiful event was directed by Elizabeth Swain.
November: Our final performance of Barfly Shakespeare at The Federal Bar.
2016
November: Our very first event is the World Premiere of Barfly Shakespeare, written and directed by Matthew Leavitt. Barfly Shakespeare would be performed sporadically over the next year at The Federal Bar.
April: The 6th Act is officially formed by founding Co-Artistic Directors Liza Seneca and Matthew Leavitt